Apply for a Grant

The Grant Application Process for 2020 is Complete

Thank you to all the nonprofits who applied for one of TWO grants to be awarded May 19, 2020. The grant window is now closed. Please come back in January, 2021 to apply for next year’s grants.

Stay in touch with Impact100 Metro Detroit and learn about the events and opportunities we have for nonprofits throughout the year on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

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About Grants

Impact100 Metro Detroit funds projects with high potential for community impact in our Metropolitan Detroit community (Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties). Grant funding comes from member contributions and each Impact member will vote to select the funded project(s). We pool $1,000 donations from our members to award grants of $100,000, with a goal each year of increasing the number of projects we are able to fund at that level.

We collect membership donations through the end of December. Grant applications are accepted from the beginning of January for approximately a month. Please see “Important Dates” for exact dates for each grant year cycle. Our members serve on committees that evaluate the grant proposals during March and April. The committees select finalists, who then present to the full membership at the Grant Award Event each May where the final vote will be cast and the grant recipients announced.

Applications are accepted for projects in any in of the following focus areas: human services, education, arts and culture, environment, and urban revitalization.

We accept grant applications from nonprofit organizations that serve clients in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Applications that are programmatic, capital, start-up, or research-oriented will be considered. We regret that we cannot accept applications for any of the following types of projects or funding: endowment, existing operating costs, partisan activities, completed projects, individual churches, indigent care subsidy, travel, loans, pass-through funds, or for individuals. In addition, the agency must have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. For more information visit our page of eligibility criteria.

Once all submitted grant applications have been reviewed, each grant review subcommittee may request additional financial and supporting documentation from, as well as a face to face visit with, select applicants they feel are viable candidates for the Impact100 Metro Detroit grant. All applicants will be notified of their status in March of each year, and finalists who are selected to present at the Annual Awards Event in May will be notified well prior to that event.

Grant Overview

Impact100 Metro Detroit’s goal is to provide high-impact grants that reach under-served populations, highlight unmet needs in our area and raise the profile of deserving but less well known organizations. Total funding is determined by the number of members we have as of December 31st each year. Our goal each year is to offer grants of $100,000. In January, our grant process is open to organizations serving Metro Detroit (Wayne, Oakland & Macomb counties) to submit grant applications. Grant finalists are determined through a rigorous process of proposal review and evaluation by our members. In May, grant recipients are determined by a vote of membership at the Impact100 Metro Detroit Award Event.

For additional information or to join our grant mailing list please contact us at grants@impact100metrodetroit.org

Grant Process

Impact100 Metro Detroit has a 5 Phase Grant Process

Phase 1: Organizations complete the grant application. Applications will only be accepted during the annual grant submission time line.

Eligibility & Guidelines

Be classified as a “Public Charity” with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

Be located in the counties of Wayne, Oakland or Macomb. (All grant monies shall be used for a project or program that serves residents of these geographic areas)

Be in at least the third full fiscal year of operation and have at least two years of completed tax filings at the time of application.

Not be a recipient of an Impact100 Metro Detroit project grant in the past three grant cycles

Impact100 Metro Detroit will give preference to organizations that:

Have annual operating budgets of at least $300,000 and below $5,000,000

Are not affiliated with a larger national or regional parent organization

Have an innovative, long lasting impact opportunity

Projects Eligibility

Fit within one of the following focus area definitions – human services, education, arts and culture, environment or urban revitalization (Note: Although Impact100 Metro Detroit members are all women, our giving is not restricted to projects or organizations made up of or benefitting only women)

Serve residents of and expend funds primarily in the geographic areas of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties

Be a new program, the expansion of an existing program, or a new or expanded collaboration

Have a total project budget of at least $100,000.

Expend the funds within 18 months of being awarded

Impact100 Metro Detroit will give priority to the following project characteristics:

Target under-served populations

Highlight unmet needs in the community

Will have a measurable and sustainable high-impact on beneficiaries

Those which allocate 15% or less of total grant funds to overhead/salary expenses for the project.

Important Dates

Our annual grant cycle begins in January of each year. The application link can be found at the top of this page when the application window is open. See below for more information.

Applications accepted early January 10 through early February

Grant Review Committees/Financial Review Committees/Site Review Visits take place February through April

Finalists Selected in mid April, and notification occurs before the end of the month

Award Event (finalists to present their projects/proposals) in May of each year

Stay informed about upcoming dates by signing up for our Nonprofit Newsletter. Send us your name and email on our contact page here.

FAQs

How do I apply for a grant?

Applications are submitted through our on-line process. We begin accepting grant applications in early January. For specific dates related to our next grant cycle, please view the Important Dates section. If you would like to receive notifications regarding our grant process, please sign up to receive our Nonprofit Newsletter by going to the “Contact Us” section of the website. If you have other questions, you may send an e-mail to grants@impact100metrodetroit.org.

What is the amount of the grant?

Our goal is to provide one or more $100,000 grants each year. The actual amount is determined when our membership is finalized each December.

Is there more information I can receive about the Impact100 Metro Detroit grant?

In November, we host a grant workshop for nonprofits where additional information about our process is provided. If you would like to learn more about this workshop and how it can help you, please e-mail us at grants@impact100metrodetroit.org. Please look for link to sign up for the workshop by visiting the “Events” section our website each October. All nonprofits are welcome at this annual event.

How is the grant award determined?

Our grant committee, comprised of members, completes a rigorous review of all applications. Throughout this process applications are narrowed down to those that best meet our giving eligibility, preference, and priority guidelines. Site visits are conducted before finalists are selected. Finalists present their organization and project at our Annual Awards Event. The grant recipient is determined at that meeting by a ballot vote of members in attendance (one vote per member).

What can be expected during the site visit?

A member site visit is conducted for applicants as a part of our review and selection process. During the visit a panel of 2-3 Impact100 Metro Detroit members will visit your location to learn more about your organization and project. Site visits occur over a 3-4 week time frame so a mutually agreed upon date can be identified.

If we submitted an application last year and did not receive the grant, can we reapply?

Yes, you are welcome to apply again. Funding can be requested for the same project or something new.

What type of communication can be expected during the grant process?

In the application you will be asked to provide a contact person at your organization. Throughout the various stages of our process we will provide status updates and contact them when we have questions or require additional information.

What if the project will serve residents outside of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties?

The grant is open to nonprofits located in Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb counties. The project should have a focus on serving residents of the tri-county area. However, it is recognized that residents outside of the tri-counties may also benefit from the project.

How will the grant money be paid?

Grant money will be disbursed based upon the project plan provided during the application process. All grant money must be disbursed within 18 months of the award.

If selected as a finalist, what can I expect at the Annual Grant Awards Event?

Finalists will be asked to submit a one page summary about their project. Project summaries will be provided to all members in advance of the Annual Awards Event. During the event, each finalist will provide a ten minute, verbal presentation about their organization and how the Impact100 Metro Detroit Grant will be used. After the presentations, the winner will be determined by membership voting and announced at the meeting.

In addition to the eligibility and guidelines, are there other restrictions I should be aware of?

Eligibility and overview information is located in the above Grant Section. In addition, Impact100 Metro Detroit will not provide grants for the following: debt reduction; relief of operating deficits, interim or bridge funding; fraternal, sectarian or partisan, legislative or political in nature; fund drives; annual appeals; fundraising events; or general capital campaigns unrelated to a specific project.